Ted Budd Questions U.S. Military Preparedness Amid Rising China Threat

During a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Ted Budd from North Carolina raised significant concerns about America’s air military capabilities in light of China’s expanding air force. Budd’s alarm focuses on the strategic decision by the U.S. military to phase out the F15E Strike Eagles, a mainstay at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, in favor of acquiring a smaller number of the newer F15EXs and F35 fighter jets. This move, according to Budd, potentially risks creating a ‘fighter gap’ between the United States and China.

The session, which spanned nearly three hours, provided a platform for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force Gen. Charles C.Q. Brown to detail the Pentagon’s budget requests and strategic priorities amidst growing concerns over global military balance. Secretary Austin and Gen. Brown engaged in an exhaustive question-and-answer period with committee members, addressing intricacies of military readiness and capability enhancement against the backdrop of China’s military advancements.

Highlighting the critical role Seymour Johnson’s F15E Strike Eagles play in both air-to-ground and air-to-air combat, Budd underscored the necessity of a strategic approach in military asset management to ensure the U.S. maintains its edge. Gen. Brown acknowledged the exceptional capabilities of the F15E Strike Eagle, reinforcing the importance of modernization and readiness in sustaining American air superiority.